711.93/477

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton) to the Secretary of State 75

Mr. Secretary: The Chinese Ambassador76 called this morning with reference to the question of the proposed exchange of notes between you and the newly appointed Chinese Foreign Minister77 on the subjects of equality of treatment and extraterritoriality.

Dr. Hu Shih stated that he had received a telephone call last night from Dr. Quo urging that, if possible, consideration and conclusion of the matter be expedited. Dr. Hu’s subsequent remarks tended to cover comprehensively the whole situation, including the circumstances under which Dr. Quo did not return to China via Russia but chose the route through the United States instead, and Dr. Hu repeated several times with considerable earnestness Dr. Quo’s and his hopes that the proposed exchange could be effected because of the moral and spiritual encouragement which the exchange would afford not only the Chinese Government but especially the Chinese people.

He stated that he and Dr. Quo had studied the draft statements very carefully and that they were very much pleased with them. He offered one suggested change: elimination in the draft letter to Dr. Quo of the words “as soon as improved conditions warrant”, which appears in the first paragraph, line 4 of page 3 of the draft. Dr. Hu stated that in his and Dr. Quo’s opinion the implication of this phrase was strongly imbedded in the context and its elimination would give the context the appearance of being more concrete and specific.

Several days ago the drafts were shown to Mr. Pasvolsky78 and the proposal was discussed with him at some length. Mr. Pasvolsky indicated that he favored the proposed exchange of notes and that he considered the commitment in regard to equality of treatment which we, for our part, obtain in the draft letter from the Chinese Foreign Minister to be a practical and desirable step forward.

For convenience of reference, drafts of the two proposed notes are attached hereto.79

M[axwell] M. H[amilton]
  1. Drafted by the Assistant Chief of the Division (Atcheson).
  2. Hu Shih.
  3. Quo Tai-chi, formerly Chinese Ambassador in the United Kingdom.
  4. Leo Pasvolsky, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State.
  5. Drafts dated May 2, not printed.